The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-02-05
INDUSTRIAL TOPICS.
A Fertilizer to Which Little At
tention is Paid in The west
Alfalfa Of No Material Value Where Grass
and Red Glover Can Be Raised.
Mari as n Fertilizer.

Mari aS FerIiiZcr.
Mari is n name given to a natural
mixture of carbonate of lime. and sill
cious sand. According as the lime.
clay, or sand predominates the mari is
oassed as calcareous, clayey, or sandy.
The carbonate of lime is often in the
form of minute shells, whose structure
may be clearly seen by the aid of a
magnifying-glass. A very valuable
mari. known as green sand" is found
in many parts of New Jersey. 1t is
the result of a decomposition OF rocks
containing lime and silica, In portions
of Canada whitish clayey mari is
found which produces excellent results
when applied 10 land devoted to grass
or grain. The value Of mari as fer
tilizer was known to the ancient Ro-
mans. II was also used by the ancient
Gauls and Britons, though they prac-
tised very rude sort of husbandry and
made very little use of common ma
nure. In Germany, France and Great
Britain much attention has been given
to mari Specimens from all the large
deposits have been analysed in order
to ascertain their commercial value. In
many places where there are good ia
cilities for transportation it is an arti-
Gle of commerce, aud many marl-beds
are sources of wealth to their owners.
That vast quantities of excellent mari
exists in various parts of the west is
altogether likely, though few attempts
have been made to discover or utilize
them Mari is often found at the bot
tom of peat or muck swamps, and in
ravines and other low places. 1t is
generally found quite near the surface
being covered by some vegetable form
atoms. Sometimes there is nothing
but turf of grass over it. 1t is ordin-
arily of slate or bluish-white color,
heavy, wet, and somewhat spongy. Its
surface is sometimes blackened by the
dark soil that rests upon it or the hui
mus that has been deposited on it. On
exposure to the mir on u dry spot OF
land it parts with its moisture and be-
comes white. crumbly mass, and quite
light in weight. In this condition it is
easiM spread over the land. IL is IA
common practice to dig marlin the fall,
to draw il TO the place where it is want
ed, and to allow il to remain in heaps
like manure till the following spring,
when IL is spread over the green sward
or plowed land. II the land is billy or
sloping. most of the mari is applied to
the higher portions, from which it will
gradually find its way to those that are
lower On level land il should be
spread uniformly over all the surface.
To distinguish mari from whitish
clay or sandy loan it is only necessary
to pour any kind of acid on sample
of il placed in cup. If il is mari it
will efiervensce like ordinary limestone
or carbonate of soda. This efferyensce
is caused by the escape of carbonic acid
from the carbonate of lime, of which
the mari is largely composed. If there
is much efiervesensce the mari is con-
sidered rich; II there is but little 1t IS
regarded as poor. The value OF mari
is generally rated by the amount OF
cOTDODdlc vi lliht ~ Noiitoih9. '~'
mari generally contains a small guam
tity of phosphoric acid, which is very
valuable for producing all kinds OF
crops, but is especially valuable for in
creasing the yield of grain Mari pro
duces excellent results when applied as
a top dressing TO grass lands, either
pasture or meadow. IL stimulates the
Growth of grass and clover and causes
Them 10 Kill out weeds aud MOSES. 1t
does not cause grass and clover to grow
rank as they do when fresh dung is APP
piled to the so neither does il impart
a disagreeable flavor to them. Like
other forms of lime. i: corrects the
acidity Of soils and improves the quality
while il increases the quantity OF the
most valuable plants. Grass on land
that has received, one application OF
mari is generally of a rich green color,
sweet and thick.
Mari should not be mixed with ordin-
airy manure. as Il is likely TO drive of
= the ammonia il contains. II mixed
~ beat or muck, however, itprodnces
I'd effect. Applied TO land under
&tion. It benefits the soil in two
IL IL II n|I4II1| ADVANTAGE in